Garage elevator



Aug. 16, 1927. 1,639,230

K. MRCDONALD, JR

GARAGE ELEVATOR Fileaebio; 192e 2 Sheets-sneer 1 A TTORNEYS.

1639,23() Aug. 1,6, 1927. K MaCDONALD JR 1 A GARAGE ELEVATOR Filed 915.10.` 192e v2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /N VEA/TOR A TTORNE YJ' Patented Aug. 16, i927.

UNITED PATENT oFFIcE.

GARAGE lELEvA'roR.

Application led February 10, 1926. Serial No. 87,273.

This' invention relates to elevators especially adapted to handling vehicles, such .as automobiles. Such elevators are useful :in garages having parking or storage spaces located on several stories, although not limited to such use. It is desirable that elevators of thisl character in discharging position should permit the motor cars to be driven directly from the elevator in the direction desired. The same conditions are desirable in loading the elevator. This would conserve space as no turning area is required in which the car must be manipulated to head it in the right direction. The saving in time and labor required in moving cars to and from parking spaces by ein' ploying an elevator having the characteristics mentioned is an important factor in operation.

The present invention has for its primary object the provision ,of an elevator Onto and from which vehicles may be moved in any selected direction. More specifically, the invention includes a circular elevator housed in a hoistway so that at the floor levels, the

hoistway may be opened at any point on its periphery, thereby permitting vehicles to be moved to or from the elevator in any d'1- rection. The elevator is equipped with ay rotatable platform or turntable, whereby the direction of loading and unloading are independent. Another object of this invention is the provision of side closures on the elevator turntable platform to comply with the requirement that the elevator cage be enclosed except at the ingress and egress places, these enclosures rotate with the turntable so that when it is turned to accommodate the loading or unloading 'of automobiles the door's are always open. In addition to the broader objects of this invention there are certain details of structure.

An embodiment ofy my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view showing diagrammatically an elevator constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a section as seen on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a section as seen on the line 23e-3 of Fig. l.

In the accompanying drawings, the essentials of an elevator constructed in accordance with my invention is shown. Cert-ain refinements and expedients well known in the elevator art may be added for convenience in construction and operation.

Floors are indicated by .3 and 3b, Ithey being providedv with hoistway openings forming ya well a for the passage ,of the elevator. .Atthe side of the hois-tway are columns 5, the columns have guides 6 extending the length of the hoistway forming ways for shoes 7 to run therein. The hoistway is enclosed, and at each floor the enclosure comprises sliding gates which may be raised and lowered to open the hoistway to the iioor. In accordance with the present standard practice, each gate may comprise vertically movable sections 8 and 9, the upper one of which may be raised and the other one lowe ered. In the constructionl shown, there are four pairs of gates, each pair constituting a quadra-circle. These pairs are indicated in Fig. l generally by a, o, c, and d.

The cage of the elevator comprises a circular floor 10 with a suitable super-structure 1l to which the hoisting'cables 12 are secured. The cables may be operated in any one of the well known manners, such hoist ing means forming no part of the present mvention. A circular track or raceway 13 is mounted upon the Hoor 10. Disposed above thefloor is a platform 14 havinga corresponding raceway 15 to receive balls or rollers whereby to rotatably support the platform upon the floor. Mounted upon the platform at the sides are curved enclosure shields 17 These provide for an enclosure of the cage except at the front and rear where ingress and egress to the cage may be effected. The cage may be turned so that. an opening may register with any one of the pair of gates a, b, c, or CZ; the selected gates may then be opened and the elevator cage loaded or' unloaded by driving the vehicle onto the platform or from it.

A convenient means for turning the cage is indicated at 18. This comprises a motor which operates gears 19 journalled on the turntable. The lowermost gear extends through an opening in the platform and meshes with a circular rack 2O secured to the floor of the elevator. Thus, by operating the motor the turntable cage may be moved to the position desired.

It is obvious that when vehicles are to be loaded upon the elevator, the turntable cage may be moved so that the cage opening therein registers with the gate in the location from which the vehicle is to be driven. The selected gates are then opened, and the vehicle driven directly upon the elevator.

The gates are then closed and the elevator may be operated in the usual manner. It is obvious that the turntable may be moved so that the vehicle is positioned to be discharged in any other selected position and driven directly from the elevator.

Vhat I claim is:

,1. In a multiple floor building structure, the combination of a cylindrical hoistway having segmental cylindrical gates completely embracing the hoistWa-y at a floor and an elevator cage in said hoistway comprising a turntable platform.

2. In a multiple floor building structure, the combination of a cylindrical hoistway having segmental cylindrical gates completely embracing the hoistWay at a floor, and an elevator cage in said hoistway comprising a turntable platform rovided With upstanding segmental cylin rical enclosures.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 29th day of January, 1926.

KENNETH MACDONALD, JR. 

